A massive fire burning north of St. Albert has led to fire bans in several communities and an air quality advisory for most of the Capital region.
The advisory affects Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, as well as parts of Sturgeon and Strathcona counties, but doesn’t currently affect St. Albert.
Kerry Williamson, spokesperson for Alberta Health Services, said the city’s air quality is actually reasonably good, but changes in wind direction could change that quickly.
“If people in St. Albert start noticing that they are tasting smoke or breathing it in, they should take the same precautions as everyone else.”
Those precautions are primarily aimed at children, the elderly, people who have respiratory problems and smokers.
Alberta Health Services is encouraging such people to stay inside as much as possible and avoid strenuous physical exercise. They should also close their windows and have air conditioner units re-circulate the air.
After beginning in Thorhild, the blaze has spread into both Sturgeon and Westlock counties.
The immense blaze has grown considerably — it covered 1,000 hectares on Thursday afternoon, but by Friday afternoon had consumed more than 2,200 hectares.
County crews from Namao, Gibbons, Redwater and as far away as Westlock and Lamont are battling the fire.
Firefighters from Provincial Sustainable Resources and several planes and helicopters along with heavy equipment have also been brought in.
Sturgeon County has implemented a complete fire ban, spokesperson Calli Stromner said. The county is very dry and, when combined with high winds, makes the risk of fire too high.
Thorhild has had to evacuate some residents. One house and barn have been consumed by the blaze.
Stromner said Sturgeon County has not had to evacuate anyone yet, but they have advised residents in the area to be prepared for the possibility.
Under a complete fire ban, the only permitted fires are gas-fuelled barbecues.
The county only recently lifted a fire ban that had been in place for more than a month because of extremely dry conditions.
